From childhood you have known the Holy Scriptures, which are able to make you wise for salvation through faith which is in Christ Jesus. 2 Timothy 3:15b
By Bro. John L. Cash, “Country Preacher Dad”
Some time ago I was babysitting one of the children from our congregation, a toddler who was just beginning say a few words. As hours passed, I began to run out of things to do to entertain the little boy. I reached beside my recliner and picked up the first book I found—a thick catalog from a church-supply company. I started to leaf through it, pointing at the pictures and talking about all the wondrous things pastors order for their churches order from time to time.
Surprisingly enough, the little one took interest in the brightly colored photographs. We came to a page that showed a display of large crosses, the kind that a church would have hanging in the front of the sanctuary. The little boy pointed at one of the crosses and spoke one word: “Strong.” I was afraid that I had misunderstood what he was saying, but again he repeated the same word: “Strong.”
I had to do a little thinking, but I soon understood. He was quoting from a song he sings every week at Sunday School at our church:
“Jesus loves me, this I know
For the Bible tells me so.
Little ones to Him belong
They are weak, but He is strong.”
Well, I was thrilled when I realized the connection. This little fellow is too young to go to school (and too little to do much talking) but he already knows some of the most important truths. He had already learned that “the cross is Jesus” and “Jesus is strong”. That’s the sort of theology that can carry you through this life and ensure that you’re prepared for the life that is to come.
In today’s Scripture lesson (at the top), St. Paul writes to the young preacher, Timothy. He commends Timothy on the knowledge that he has of the Holy Scriptures—a knowledge that leads to salvation through faith in Jesus. And Timothy learned these things “from childhood” (2 Timothy 3:15) as he was taught by his grandmother, Lois, and his mother, Eunice (2 Timothy 1:5).
So, dear mama, it’s never too early to start talking to your babies about the Lord and His Word. When a teachable moment comes along, make the most of it. Your little ones are growing each day. See to it that they grow in faith, too, because they are never too young to learn.
Dr. John L. Cash is the “Country Preacher Dad.” He was raised in Stuttgart, Arkansas, and has spent the last 27 years being a country preacher in the piney woods five miles south of the little town of Hickory, Mississipp
i. (On week days has a desk-job at a public school and teaches Latin on closed-circuit-television.) He and his lovely wife, Susan, live in the parsonage next door to the Antioch Christian Church (where they sometimes entertain one of the babies from their congregation). The Cashes have two sons, Spencer (age 21), and Seth (age 18), who live in the parsonage, too, except when they are away at college. He would love to hear from you in an email sent to countrypreacherdad@gaggle.net.
